PCB pulls plug early: Azhar Mahmood released as Test coach months before contract end | Cricket News
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has parted ways with national Test team head coach Azhar Mahmood, releasing him three months before the expiry of his contract. The move signals another reset in Pakistan’s red-ball setup as the board looks to plan for the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Mahmood’s contract was due to run until March 2026, but he has been granted an early release with Pakistan not scheduled to play another Test until that same month. “Since Azhar’s contract ends in March and Pakistan’s Test assignments begin from March 2026, it would be best for the Board to start planning ahead for a new head coach,” a source close to the PCB said, as per a news agency PTI report.
A former Pakistan all-rounder, Mahmood had been working with the national side in various roles over the past few years and was appointed Test head coach last year on a two-year deal. His departure continues a period of instability in Pakistan’s Test coaching structure, which has seen frequent changes since early 2024.According to the report, the PCB has already initiated the search for a new Test head coach, with the possibility of a wider overhaul of the support staff also on the table. Pakistan’s World Test Championship campaign resumes in March 2026 with a tour of Bangladesh, followed by away series in the West Indies in July and England in August-September. Home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand are scheduled for November-December 2026 and March 2027 respectively.The Test side has largely functioned under interim arrangements, with Aaqib Javed and Mahmood sharing responsibilities after the PCB and Australian coach Jason Gillespie parted ways in early 2024 over differences related to selection matters.
